Make a Scarecrow

Learn how to make a scarecrow for free with materials that you already have in your own home.

Here's what you'll need:

1. 1
   Stuff plastic grocery bags

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   Get a large trash bag and stuff it with plastic grocery bags. Gather the bottom together and wrap tightly with a rubber band. You'll also want to gather a second batch of plastic grocery bags and stuff them inside one of the plastic bags. The larger plastic bag will be the torso for the scarecrow, and the smaller bag will serve as the stuffing for the head.

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2. 2
   Gather together some muslin fabric

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   Muslin is an inexpensive fabric that dress designers use to make patterns. The main advantage to muslin is that it has a natural color that looks like skin tone. If you don't have muslin, you can substitute an old pillow case. You don't even have to sew it. Just have it out and ready to use.

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3. 3
   Decorate the face

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   Lay the fabric on a hard surface and use a black magic marker to draw a face. Don't worry if it's not too pretty. You'll be dressing it up in a minute.

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4. 4
   Use two large buttons

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   The buttons are going to serve as the eyes on your scarecrow. Shiny buttons will glow a little when headlights on your street hit them. If you are using standard buttons, sew them on. If you choose to use shank buttons, you can take a shortcut. From the underside of fabric, grasp the shank and spear it with a safety pin. Bring the end of the safety pin back through the fabric and secure

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5. 5
   Paint the face

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   Use your old makeup to paint the scarecrow's face. You can do it anyway that pleases you, but try painting the nose orange, the cheeks rosy red, the eyelids purple or blue, and the lips red.

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6. 6
   Stuff the head

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   Now you're ready to stuff the head. Stuff the pillowcase or muslin with the small ball of plastic grocery bags and secure with a rubber band at the bottom.

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7. 7
   Stuff the shirt

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   Use an old long sleeved shirt and stuff it with the large stuffing of plastic grocery bags.

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8. 8
   Insert the shoulders

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   Using a cardboard tube from the inside of regular gift wrapping paper, you'll make shoulders and arms for your scarecrow. Start from one sleeve and slowly maneuver the tube up the arm, behind the plastic bags, and back out through the other sleeve.

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9. 9
   Make the hat

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   Use a regular knit hat to make the base for your hat. A hat brim can be cut out of a pizza box. First cut the circle, then fold the circle in half to cut the brim. Place it on some newspaper and spray paint it to match the hat color.

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10. 10
    Add the brim to the hat

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    Slip the cardboard brim over the knit hat. Staple it onto the hat to secure.

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11. 11
    Position the scarecrow

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    Use nails to position your scarecrow against a tree for display.

    

    Add jeans and some boots to complete the illusion!

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If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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